Four Seasons Brocade – CH 113

Chapter 113 ☆、

On her third night at Prince Qi’s Mansion, Ah Wu finally slept soundly, waking up refreshed. Most remarkably, the various noises Chu Mao made while getting up had not disturbed her sleep at all; Ah Wu did not even know when Chu Mao had gotten up and left.

Ah Wu looked out the open window. The autumn air was crisp and clear; soon the sun would be shining brightly. New yellow leaves twirled and fell in the courtyard with the gentle breeze. Ah Wu watched the falling leaves with great interest, watching them settle and turn to the ground.

“Miss, the chambermaids are waiting outside,” Zi-Shan reported as she entered.

Ah Wu nodded, stood up, and waited for Tong-Wen to straighten her clothes before entering the main hall. The three chambermaids, who had been waiting on the porch, entered in a line with their heads bowed.

Ah Wu felt a slight disappointment upon seeing them. She took Zi-Shan’s hand and stepped onto the footstool, sitting down on the central sandalwood couch carved with dragon and lingzhi patterns.

“Please sit down,” Ah Wu said.

The three women then sat down awkwardly on the edge of the embroidered stools, not daring to look up.

Ah Wu had no interest in observing these three chambermaids, whose presence was practically negligible.

However, as the Princess Consort of the Prince Qi’s Mansion, Ah Wu was the subject of great curiosity among the three chambermaids. Xun Mei, with her head bowed, could only see the mistress’s clothes. A dark red, full-length, stand-up collar jacket with wide sleeves and a front opening, adorned with large peach blossoms. The collar and front were fastened with gold buttons featuring a double fish playing with lotus flowers. The cuffs were trimmed with a two-finger-wide border of gold peach blossoms. Below was a pale yellow pleated skirt with a dark auspicious cloud pattern, and the hem was embroidered with a light blue floral and bird pattern. It was exquisitely crafted.

Ah Wu took a sip of tea, well aware of the intimidating power of silence. Only after the three women shifted their positions again did she speak. “Where are the two concubines?”

At this moment, the two maids standing on the other side stepped forward simultaneously. One said, “Your Highness, my concubine caught a cold this morning and was afraid of passing on her illness, so she dared not come to pay her respects.”

The other continued, “Your Highness, my mistress vomited after drinking a bowl of bird’s nest porridge this morning and is still in bed. The physician has always said that my mistress is weak and needs to rest more.”

Ah Wu raised an eyebrow. She had only just entered the room, and both of them were already ill. Anyone who did not know better would think that her fate had clashed with theirs. Fortunately, her status was higher, so there was no question of clashing.

“Have they seen a physician? Of course, her health is the most important thing.” Ah Wu had to feign a virtuous demeanor. A principal wife was not some man’s plaything; her primary duty was to be virtuous and capable, not as capricious and unreasonable as these two concubines.

After questioning the two maids of the concubines, Ah Wu turned to the three chambermaids and smiled, “Raise your heads, all of you. If you only look at my buttons and do not recognize me later, you will make a fool of yourselves.”

Ah Wu’s attitude was both kind and amiable, with a touch of humor, which made the three women, who had been looking down, breathe a sigh of relief and raise their heads in response.

All five women, including the two maids, widened their eyes in surprise. It must be said that, until now, apart from the two Meis, the chambermaids and maids of the Prince Qi’s mansion had been extremely well-behaved; they dared not look directly at their mistress unless she spoke.

Therefore, only now did the five women truly see Ah Wu’s appearance.

Xun Mei, the leader of the three chambermaids, was momentarily stunned upon seeing Ah Wu, her eyes filled with melancholy. It was not until Gongsun Lan nudged her that she snapped out of her daze, took the tea from Tong-Guan, knelt on the cushion, and held the tea above her head, saying, “This humble servant, Xun Mei, serves tea to Your Highness.”

This Xun Mei was an old maidservant of Chu Mao, said to have served him since childhood. Two years older than Chu Mao, she was a woman in her early twenties, in the prime of her beauty, her figure like ripe fruit tempting to be plucked. In Ah Wu’s opinion, she was the most beautiful among them. Ah Wu had also seen He Peizhen, but she was not as beautiful as Xun Mei. She only wondered what Lady Tao looked like.

Ah Wu did not make things difficult for Xun Mei at all. She quickly took the tea, took a sip, and then presented a tray with a pair of four-ounce gold bracelets and two jade hairpins. Xun Mei kowtowed again in thanks before rising and sitting down.

The two women, Gongsun Lan and Ouyang Zhi, were concubines of the princes and ministers whom the Longqing Emperor had received as tribute one year. Under Consort Xiang’s influence, they were distributed among the princes. They were beautiful, but most striking were their figures—slender shoulders and willow-like waists.

When the two women served tea, they were presented with the same pair of gold bracelets and two jade hairpins, without distinction.

At this moment, all three women were impressed by Ah Wu’s generosity and realized that the princess’s dowry was likely substantial, or at least appeared to be.

Ah Wu casually asked them a few questions and then dismissed them. Seeing their cautious expressions, Ah Wu knew their situation in the Prince Qi’s mansion was not good; Chu Mao never even set foot in their quarters—there was really nothing to see.

Not seeing the two concubines compete left Ah Wu somewhat dejected. She leaned against the pillows in the east-side room, pondering how to pass the time before the person she was waiting for arrived. However, Ah Wu did not have to wait long before Zi-Shan, looking on with a serious expression, said, “Miss, Nanny Hao requests an audience.”

Ah Wu glanced at Zi-Shan, signaling her to continue, but Zi-Shan could not utter a word; she had not found out Nanny Hao’s background. However, Zi-Shan had heard from Ah Wu that only those of noble status, who did not need ostentatious adornment, dressed simply.

And in the past few days, Zi-Shan had observed all the nannies and matrons in the household, and Nanny Hao was the most simply dressed. Furthermore, judging from her demeanor, Zi-Shan assumed that the maids in the mansion respected Nanny Hao greatly, even more so than they did with the Princess.

Ah Wu searched her memory, but even in her previous life, she had no recollection of Nanny Hao.

Nanny Hao was accompanied only by a clever little maid of eleven or twelve years old. The little maid carefully supported her elbow as they ascended the steps and entered the Yulan Hall.

Since she could not find out Nanny Hao’s identity, Ah Wu decided to play it safe and remained seated on the couch by the south window without rising to greet her. If Nanny Hao was not the person Ah Wu was waiting for, then her status did not warrant Ah Wu’s greeting. But if she was, seeing how Nanny Hao managed the inner quarters so impenetrably and how Nanny Hao was already displaying her absolute dominance over the Prince Qi’s mansion upon Ah Wu’s arrival, it made Ah Wu quite disgusted.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” Nanny Hao said with difficulty, her ailing body bowing slightly.

Ah Wu quickly stepped forward to help her up. “Please sit, Nanny.” Dealing with a sickly woman was hardly a fair fight.

Ah Wu noticed that Nanny Hao’s face was sallow; only her eyes were still somewhat bright. She wore a clean but faded ivory-colored jacket and a blue-gray horse-face skirt, looking very simple. Only the extremely precious amber headband on her forehead revealed her identity.

Ah Wu already knew who this Nanny Hao was; she was none other than “Lady Qilian,” Chu Mao’s wet nurse, whom he later bestowed the title of “Lady Qilian” upon after Chu Mao ascended the throne. However, this elderly Lady Qilian was in poor health and passed away after only a few years of enjoying her life. By the time Ah Wu drifted to Chu Mao’s side, Lady Qilian had already passed away, so Ah Wu had never met her.

But Chu Mao deeply respected this wet nurse. Every year on the anniversary of her death, the royal temple, Dafo Temple, would hold a memorial service, and Chu Mao would also go to offer incense. Chu Mao had lost his mother at birth and was raised by this wet nurse; their bond was comparable to that of a biological mother and son.

Thinking of this, Ah Wu smiled warmly and gracefully invited Nanny Hao to sit opposite her. “Nanny, what tea would you like to have?”

“Anything is fine; Your Highness is too kind,” Nanny Hao coughed lightly.

“I have some pear syrup here; it’s quite effective for soothing the lungs and relieving coughs. Would Nanny Hao like to try it?” Ah Wu asked with concern.

Nanny Hao nodded. “I am sorry to bother you, Your Highness.”

“Nanny, please do not say that. Actually, I should be the one visiting you. You are not feeling well, yet you still come to see me. I am truly ashamed.”

Nanny Hao glanced at Ah Wu. She had not expected the princess to recognize her identity so quickly. Was it because she was too clever or too capable?

“Your Highness is the mistress, and this old servant dares not presume upon her seniority. It is my duty to pay my respects to Your Highness today. Before Your Highness entered the mansion, this old servant shamelessly managed the inner courtyard for the prince. Now that Your Highness has entered the mansion, this old servant, thanks to Your Highness, can finally enjoy some leisure.”

Pei-Lan, the maidservant beside Nanny Hao, placed the box she was carrying on the small table. Nanny Hao opened the box; inside were a pair of tokens and a set of keys. She pushed the box in front of Ah Wu.

Ah Wu felt that this thing was like a hot potato. If the power of housekeeping were in the hands of Lady He or Lady Tao, she would definitely take it back. But with it in the hands of Nanny Hao, Ah Wu was a little uncertain.

Ah Wu put herself in Chu Mao’s shoes. Since he wanted to respect his wet nurse, letting her hold power over the inner quarters was the greatest respect he could show, ensuring the entire household would also respect her. If Ah Wu were to take charge of the inner quarters, Nanny Hao, though Chu Mao’s wet nurse, would receive less respect. Moreover, Nanny Hao was not Ah Wu’s wet nurse; two tigers could not share the same mountain. If Ah Wu were unhappy, Nanny Hao would inevitably be neglected. Besides, Chu Mao was destined for great things, and the inner quarters could not afford to fall into disarray. Nanny Hao managed the inner quarters so well, as if they were an impregnable fortress. Rather than expecting a fifteen-year-old girl to manage the inner quarters, it was better to continue employing Nanny Hao.

Ah Wu looked at the box like a hot potato. Taking it would certainly be bad, but not taking it meant troubling Nanny Hao, given her frail health. Moreover, even though Ah Wu considered herself intelligent, she could not discern Nanny Hao’s true intentions—whether she genuinely relinquished power or was merely using a strategic retreat as a pretext.

That was hard to say. The taste of power was like the finest aphrodisiac, irresistible and elusive. This was a casual remark made by Master Rong during a casual conversation, not to Ah Wu’s face, but Ah Wu wholeheartedly agreed.

If Princess Fuhui had not clung to power back then, she would not have bothered supporting a weakling like the Fifth Prince and ultimately would not have been ostracized by Chu Mao.

“Zi-Shan, go and fetch the Prince back,” Ah Wu instructed Zi-Shan instead of taking the box.

After Zi-Shan left, Ah Wu smiled at Nanny Hao and said, “I know Nanny Hao is not well, and I should not trouble you anymore, but I am young and inexperienced. I do not know how to manage such a large palace. Please continue to work for the Prince for a while longer so I can learn gradually.”

Similarly, Nanny Hao could not tell if Ah Wu’s feelings were genuine or feigned, but she was certain that this young princess was not foolish. Nanny Hao sighed inwardly, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.

Ah Wu chatted with Nanny Hao for a while, asking what medicine she was taking, which physician she was seeing, and what symptoms she had. Casually, she asked Nanny Hao if she had any relatives left.

Nanny Hao hesitated for a moment, then said, “No, I have none. The Prince has been kind to me, allowing me to take in a goddaughter so that someone will care for me after I pass away.”

“Oh, why did you not bring my sister so I could meet her?” Ah Wu asked casually. This adopted daughter must be a foster sister, perhaps even a little bodhisattva.

“She’s not someone of high status; I would not dare disturb the Princess. Since the Princess wishes to see her, I will have her come to pay her respects another day.” Nanny Hao casually unbuttoned her clothes, acting as if the adopted daughter was unimportant.

As she spoke, the maid who had been lifting the curtain raised her voice, “The Prince is back.”